“Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”
I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.’ He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say. And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more? I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.
I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.
Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.